France Is Getting 5 New High-Speed Train Lines

Earlier this year, the French government announced it would make some serious investments in its transportation infrastructure—which translates today to details about five new high-speed train lines, expected to criss-cross the country by 2023, reports The Local France. These technically aren't new routes; instead, France will upgrade both train cars and existing "regular" rail lines to make them both high-speed TGV. Here's where the "new" lines will run, and what it all means for you:

Bordeaux–Toulouse: It currently takes travelers more than four hours to go by train between the wine region of Bordeaux and historic Toulouse, with its landmark churches and convent, in France's southwest. A new high-speed connection will shave off an hour, and the train stations in both towns will be upgraded, reports The Local.

Marseille–Nice: This high-speed route will link to popular cities on France's Mediterranean coast, northeast of Montpellier and Perpignan. (A train between the two will take you about three hours.) Marseille's Old Port is one of the most picturesque in all of Europe, and Nice is one of the French Riviera's crown jewels.

Montpellier–Perpignan: Interested in seeing more of France's Mediterranean coast? Get excited about this route in southwest France, which will travel along the water and connect (slightly inland) Montpellier with Perpignan, which has a noticeable Catalan feel to it—unsurprising, since it was the capital of the Kingdom of Majorca during the 13th century. It currently takes an hour and a half to move between Montpellier and Perpignan by train; expect that number to shrink significantly.

Paris–Le Havre: Zoom from Paris to Le Havre, an historic port city in Normandy and entry point to WWII memorials, thanks to this forthcoming high-speed rail. (It currently takes about two and a half hours on "regular" rail lines.) Paris's St Lazare station, where the trains to Le Havre will depart, will get an expansion.

Paris Charles de Gaulle–Region of Picardy: Good news for passengers flying in and out of de Gaulle: With the line updates, travelers will be able to reach CDG's train station on a direct line from the cities and communes of Chantilly, Creil, Pont-Sainte-Maxence, Clermont, Compiègne, and Amiens.